Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that only a few cases go to An Bord Pleanála. In recent years, however, local authorities have been guided by precedent and when they see that the precedent is set by An Bord Pleanála, they start to refuse permission. There might not be so many cases out in the public domain with An Bord Pleanála but there are umpteen cases with various local authorities. The local authorities do not want to be seen with egg on their faces as a result of granting permissions and then having their decisions overruled by the higher authority. It is as if the local authorities do not know their own laws. The ball is back in TII's court in the context of addressing the terms of reference so that suitable applicants can obtain planning permission.